Chateau La Rousselle Fronsac, Bordeaux, Complete Guide

La Rousselle

Learn everything about Chateau La Rousselle Fronsac with wine tasting notes, wine and food pairing tips, best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau La Rousselle History, Overview

Chateau La Rousselle is one of the older estates in the region. The vineyard dates all the way back to the 1600’s, when it was founded by a member of the Rousselle family.

However, the true modern era for Chateau La Rousselle is quite recent as that starts in 1971 when the Fronsac estate was purchased by the Davau family. At the time of the purchase by the Davau family, Chateau La Rousselle was in a dilapidated condition and everything required work.

The new owners began an extensive renovation program from the ground up starting with the chateau, wine cellars and wine making facilities.

The vineyard demanded expensive replanting. The truth is, everything needed to be renovated and completely modernized. In fact, as we mentioned, the Chateau La Rousselle vineyard was also in serious need of major replanting as well.

All that work paid off because these days it’s easy to see the quality in the wines. In fact, these days, Chateau La Rousselle is making one of the top wines in the Fronsac appellation. Vivien Davau. sold the vineyard to Enzo Ide, who also owns Chateau Lucia, in St. Emilion.

Chateau La Rousselle Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 4.6 hectare Right Bank vineyard of Chateau La Rousselle is planted to 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Sauvignon vines have been removed. The terroir is clay and limestone soils. The vines are old. On average, the vines are close to 35 years of age, with some parcels having older vines.

To produce the wine of Chateau La Rousselle, after whole berry vinification, the wine is aged in 50%, new, French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel.

The team of Stephane Derenoncourt acts as the consultant for the winemaking as well as the vineyard management at Chateau La Rousselle. On average, the production is close to 1,500 cases of wine per vintage.

The best vintages of Chateau La Rousselle are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2009.

When to Drink Chateau La Rousselle, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau La Rousselle is better with at least 2-3 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for up to 1 hour, helping the wine soften to help develop the aromatic character.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau La Rousselle offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 2-10 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau La Rousselle with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau La Rousselle is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau La Rousselle is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes. Chateau La Rousselle is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta.

Château La Rousselle Wine Tasting Notes

14 Vintages 27,948 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2023
91
Flowers, fruit, and freshness, with a touch of salt on the backend, to make the round, polished, sweet, ripe, black cherries, and juicy plums even better. Drink from 2026-2035. 90-92 Pts.

Flowers, fruit, and freshness, with a touch of salt on the backend, to make the round, polished, sweet, ripe, black cherries, and juicy plums even better. Drink from 2026-2035. 90-92 Pts.

574 Views   Tasted
2022
91
Licorice, flowers and spice with black raspberries and plums fill up the nose and palate here. The wine is supple, medium-bodied, fresh and sweet, with accents of chocolate, licorice, and espresso. The wine blends 60% Merlot with 40% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2025-2035. 90-92 Pts.

Licorice, flowers and spice with black raspberries and plums fill up the nose and palate here. The wine is supple, medium-bodied, fresh and sweet, with accents of chocolate, licorice, and espresso. The wine blends 60% Merlot with 40% Cabernet Franc. 14.5% ABV. Drink from 2025-2035. 90-92 Pts.

1,611 Views   Tasted
2021
88
Flowers and spice with minty herbs and red fruits on the palate. The wine is bright, crisp and a bit reserved as well in the finish. Drink from 2023-2030. 87-89

Flowers and spice with minty herbs and red fruits on the palate. The wine is bright, crisp and a bit reserved as well in the finish. Drink from 2023-2030. 87-89

1,249 Views   Tasted
2020
93
Flowers, herbs, licorice, coffee bean, smoke, earth, flowers and juicy, lush black plums. Opulent, vibrant, rich and concentrated, this is already a pleasure to taste and feel. Drink from 2023-2040.

Flowers, herbs, licorice, coffee bean, smoke, earth, flowers and juicy, lush black plums. Opulent, vibrant, rich and concentrated, this is already a pleasure to taste and feel. Drink from 2023-2040.

750 Views   Tasted
Dark garnet in color, the wine is loaded with licorice, coffee bean, smoke, anise, earth, flowers and black plums. Richly textured and fleshy, the wine is silky, polished, sweet and long, with an opulent finish. This should be just great on release and even better with a few years of age. 90-92 Pts

Dark garnet in color, the wine is loaded with licorice, coffee bean, smoke, anise, earth, flowers and black plums. Richly textured and fleshy, the wine is silky, polished, sweet and long, with an opulent finish. This should be just great on release and even better with a few years of age. 90-92 Pts

1,495 Views   Tasted
2019
90
Dark in hue, with licorice, espresso and black cherries on the nose, the wine is full-bodied, round, forward and very fruity. The endnote, with all those layers of opulent dark berries keeps on going. 89-91

Dark in hue, with licorice, espresso and black cherries on the nose, the wine is full-bodied, round, forward and very fruity. The endnote, with all those layers of opulent dark berries keeps on going. 89-91

2,694 Views   Tasted
2018
91
Espresso, smoke, cherries, licorice, chocolate and layers of ripe pit fruits are all over the place here, on the showy nose, and on the richly textured, lush, chocolate covered cherry filled palate. It is ready to drink on release and it sells for a song, making it that much better.

Espresso, smoke, cherries, licorice, chocolate and layers of ripe pit fruits are all over the place here, on the showy nose, and on the richly textured, lush, chocolate covered cherry filled palate. It is ready to drink on release and it sells for a song, making it that much better.

803 Views   Tasted
With licorice, smoke, jam and black fruits, the wine is forward, lush, fat and rich. The wine offers early drinking charm, so you can pop on cork on release letting you enjoy all this ripe fruit without delay. 89-91 Pts

With licorice, smoke, jam and black fruits, the wine is forward, lush, fat and rich. The wine offers early drinking charm, so you can pop on cork on release letting you enjoy all this ripe fruit without delay. 89-91 Pts

1,426 Views   Tasted
2017
89
Fennel, spice, black licorice and plums are delivered with soft, round textures. The wine is medium bodied, forward, open and due to its early drinking charm, you can pop on cork on release.

Fennel, spice, black licorice and plums are delivered with soft, round textures. The wine is medium bodied, forward, open and due to its early drinking charm, you can pop on cork on release.

1,425 Views   Tasted
2016
89
Soft, sweet and fresh, with and earthy, juicy, silky, ripe, sweet dark red fruits in a forward supple style, with a nice fresh polished sweet fruity end note and a lingering, herbal note in the finish.

Soft, sweet and fresh, with and earthy, juicy, silky, ripe, sweet dark red fruits in a forward supple style, with a nice fresh polished sweet fruity end note and a lingering, herbal note in the finish.

1,994 Views   Tasted
Licorice, dark chocolate and spicy, dark cherry flavors, medium/full bodied, sweet and forward.

Licorice, dark chocolate and spicy, dark cherry flavors, medium/full bodied, sweet and forward.

1,821 Views   Tasted
2015
90
Soft, silky, ripe, sweet dark red fruits in a forward supple style, with a nice fresh polished sweet fruity end note.

Soft, silky, ripe, sweet dark red fruits in a forward supple style, with a nice fresh polished sweet fruity end note.

1,678 Views   Tasted
2014
87
Smooth red fruits, red licorice and a forward, fruity sweet finish. 86-89 Pts

Smooth red fruits, red licorice and a forward, fruity sweet finish. 86-89 Pts

1,740 Views   Tasted
2012
86
Blending 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, the wine offers licorice, black cherry and earthy notes in the nose. Soft in texture, but short in the finish. 85-87 Pts

Blending 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, the wine offers licorice, black cherry and earthy notes in the nose. Soft in texture, but short in the finish. 85-87 Pts

1,935 Views   Tasted
2011
86
Medium bodied, almost, but not quite light, fruity, soft, dark cherry filled wine with earthy, floral accents. This is not a wine to hold for future drinking.

Medium bodied, almost, but not quite light, fruity, soft, dark cherry filled wine with earthy, floral accents. This is not a wine to hold for future drinking.

1,834 Views   Tasted
2010
90
Round, ripe, forward and lushly textured, this has more than ample, fresh, sweet, juicy black plums, licorice and cocoa, coupled with an open personality to make this already fun in your glass.

Round, ripe, forward and lushly textured, this has more than ample, fresh, sweet, juicy black plums, licorice and cocoa, coupled with an open personality to make this already fun in your glass.

1,618 Views   Tasted
2009
91
From a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, this deeply colored wine offers licorice, coffee bean, black cherry liqueur and mineral scents. Rich in texture, concentrated and with round tannins, the wine ends with a long, sweet, intense, wave of blackberry, jam, fennel and espresso bean. Another great value wine from the Stephane Derenoncourt team.

From a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, this deeply colored wine offers licorice, coffee bean, black cherry liqueur and mineral scents. Rich in texture, concentrated and with round tannins, the wine ends with a long, sweet, intense, wave of blackberry, jam, fennel and espresso bean. Another great value wine from the Stephane Derenoncourt team.

3,301 Views   Tasted